The Opelousas courier., 1887-07-23
TINY'S PRESENT.
~ s. A. WEISS.

BY s. A. WEISS.
/ was hastily swallowing my break
fast, with my overcoat and valisc lyin.
on Q chair, prepared for starting
on a brief business trip to the mctropo-
lis.
MY mother was pouring out my sec,
ond cup of coffee; my sister Sophie, tt
save time, buttercd a Toll; while D.ckeJ
and Lottie, for oncc forgetful Of break
fast, stood at the window, prepared &c
give warning Of the appearance of Tho
horse-car which would take me to the
railway station, a few blocks distant.
Here's the carrier cried D.cky.
And both he and Lottie, rushing to the
front door, Immediately returned, each
exultantly holding aloft a letter.
"one for me, from Cousin Dora,'
said Sophie, examining the address; the
other for you, mamma-a strange hand.
writing and with a strange postmark.
wonder who it can be from2'
"open it, said mother, still occu.
pied with the coffee; and Sophie
obeyed.
From Alkaline Porter, Key West
Mother looked up with sudden inter-
est.
Dear mel Cousin Hector's daugh-
teri What does she say, Sophie?"
she says"-sophle glanced rapidly
over the letter-'tshe has been spending
some months in Florida, and, being now
on her return home, proposes to stop with
her little girl, Tiny, and pay us a few
days visit. She wishes t. sec the rela-
lives Of whom she hi heard her father
SO often speak,
shall be very glad to have them
come-veryi' mother said, warmly.
at is really sad TO think how our rela-
tives have drifted apart in the last thirty
years. Why, if our children shou d
meet now-married, and with strange
~names-they would not know each other.
Yes5 this must be Hsctor's daughter
Alkaline (t was grandmother's name)
who married about six years ago, and
was left a rich and handsome widow in
less than two years after her marriage.
And she has a little girl-poor thingi-
about Lottie's age, I should think"
tOh, Pm so gladP' exclaimed Lotto,
with enthusiasm. Won't it be nice to
have enother little girl to play witha'
A young widow, rich and hand
somc, = said Sophie, CHANGING arch'y at
me. What a pity you should be going
away, AIeckl We must try and keep
her until your RETURN
I'VE will FIX the east room at once
mother resumed, practically, and put
up the little trundle-bed for Tiny.
But when arc we to expect them,
sophiegs
80 soon is she hears from u, being
now on her way home. ! will write at
once
sHellol All aboard Car comingl'
shouted Dickey.
And had just time to hurricdly kiss
them an around andhmake q rather
digniied dash aftdA the car as it was
disappearing around the corner.
In the eight days Of my absence I &c
cciyed two letters from home.
Tho first was a hurried ono from
mother, saying all were well. Mrs. Pot
tsr and Tiny had arrived, and were
charming, and she hoped | would be
hack IN time to see them. And then she
proceeded with some directions in re-
gard I'd certain purchases with which she
had commissioned me.
The second letter was a scrawl from
Lotto.
ssDEAR BRoTHER ALECK-Wc are all
well. Tiny is lovely, and do love her.
We have ine times In the garder. She
il 30 sorry she left her lovely doll at
homc, ShesweaFs lovely dresses. Her
mamma rave me one 81 her sa~shcs--biue.
WG4ASA WseAA ~ dAa4GSp \ WQut4 fIAG III
have d pink sash If Won bring me any
presents, be sure to bring Tiny some.
she loves French lson-bons; she said So
80 do i Yosr devoted littlc sister,
LoTTlE.
ArtfuI little hoEtiel smiled 1t her
cunning Suggestions, through which was
apparent ! Characteristic honesty and
49, 5&
ffankness.
And The day before ! left tho city for
hozna, ] stepped into q storO and pur-
chased I few presents wherewith to de.
llght Der heart-not forgetting the pink
sasa and the French boa-bons and for
Tiny Issiscted i beautIful doIl, ID II.
placs TIE one she bad unfortunatsl 81 aa
gotten 70 bring, and also ! Noe
which 7 knew e bo that mo-